Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fernando Torres Biography

Background and YouthFernando Torres was born March 20th 1984 in Madrid, Spain. He has an older brother Israel and an older sister Mari Paz by parents Flori and Jose. Torres first came into contact with a football at the tender age of two, playing in the house with his brother. At just 5 years old El Nino joined his first football team Parque 84. Fernando started his playing career as a goalkeeper which lasted until he had his front teeth knocked out, although by his own admission it was a good save. Losing his teeth was probably the best thing that could have happened as he sought refuge in an attacking role. At the age of seven Torres played for his second team Mario’s Holland for three years in an indoor league. And by the age of ten Torres was playing 11-a-side football for Rayo 13 which is where he got his big break. After finishing the season with a 55 goal haul the three best players were given the opportunity to have a trial with Atletico Madrid. Fernando Torres was given the chance to represent Atletico at the youngest age they allowed.

Atletico Madrid

Fernando Torres went on to represent Atletico's youth team from 1995-2001 winning his first major youth title in 1998, the Nike Cup. The cup was fought out between Europe's top sides and Torres was later voted the best player in Europe at his age group.

Fernando made his senior debut for Atletico at 17 years of age at the Vicente Calderon against Leganes. He went on to score his first goal a week later against Albacete. Atletico missed out on promotion that year from the second tier of Spanish football. In 2001-02 Torres had a return of just 6 goals in 36 matches as Atletico gained promotion back to La Liga. But that poor goals return was soon banished as El Nino scored 11 goals in 29 matches in his debut season in La Liga helping Atletico Madrid in finish 11th place. In 2003-04 Fernando Torres became the joint third highest goal scorer in the league with 19 goals in 35 matches leaving nobody in any doubt of his importance to the team. At the tender age of 19 El Nino was made the captain of Atletico Madrid.

Three more seasons of football at the Vicente Calderon were to follow with constant speculation about the players future. Both Newcastle and Chelsea tried to sign El Nino but offers were rejected and Torres signed a contract extension. The goals were still forth coming racking up 20 goals from 49 matches in all competitions at the end of the 2004/05 season. The next season saw new manager Carlos Bianchi move to the Vicente Calderon but he failed to make an impact on the team. Bianchi left the club just four points above the relegation zone and on the verge of being knocked out the last 16 of the Kings Cup. Pepe Murcia was brought in and Atletico went on a run of 6 consecutive wins. But despite this resurgence in form Atletico were unable to grasp a European place.

The 2006/07 season was to be El Nino's last in Atletico's red and white stripes. Torres finished the campaign with 14 leagues from 36 appearances as rumours were beginning to circulate about Liverpool's interest in the Spanish Striker.

Liverpool
Fernando Torres signed for Liverpool in a club record £20million move which saw Luis Garcia move in the opposite direction in a separate deal. The decision to leave the club he joined as a young child 12 years ago was difficult but in order for Fernando to grow and develop as a player the time was right to leave. At Liverpool he would no longer be the only star in the team and as a result became a liberated player. In his first season in English football Fernando Torres broke the record for the most league goals in a debut season by a foreigner. He scored 24 goals from 33 matches breaking Ruud Van Nistlerooy's record for Manchester United of 23 goals in his first season. He scored a total of 33 goals in 46 matches in all competitions in his debut season, leaving kop fans in no doubt that El Nino was the missing piece of the Premiership jigsaw.His second season was plagued with hamstring problems that was in no part helped by Spain's success in the summer, leaving El Nino with little rest and preparation time for the new season. When he did play he was devastating, his speed, technical ability, awareness and power had centre half's shaking in there boots. In December 2008 Torres was shortlisted by FIFA for the World Player of the Year, eventually coming third behind winner Cristiano Ronaldo and runner up Lionel Messi.Fernando managed to get a run of games under his belt in the business end of the season. He and Steven Gerrard's partnership became explosive again culminating in a 4-0 Champions League victory against Real Madrid at Anfield and a 4-1 mauling of Manchester United at Old Trafford. This form left kopites wondering what if Torres and Gerrard had been fit all season. As it turned out Liverpool were eliminated from Europe in the quarter finals by Chelsea and finished 4 points behind Man Utd in the title race. Torres scored 14 goals from 24 matches in the league and racked up 17 goals from 34 matches in all competitions.

Spain Torres began his International career with Spain playing for the under 16's back in 2001. His first taste of silverware came shortly after winning the Algarve tournament. This gave the team confidence to compete in the under 16 European Championships which were held in England. Fernando had injury problems leading up to the tournament and was unable to play a part in the qualifiers. The manager gave him his chance though and Torres finished the tournament top scorer and the player of the Championships as Spain won the competition. Torres was beginning to make a name for himself outside of Madrid.That success was short lived as later that year Torres joined up with the under 17's for the World Championship held in Trinidad and Tobago. After a string of poor results the team failed to make it through the group stages. In 2002 Torres was part of the under 19's that went to Norway for the European Championships. Torres scored the winning goal in the final to beat Germany 1-0 as El Nino's love affair with the European Championships continued.Fernando Torres made his debut for the senior side in a friendly against Portugal in 2003. After scoring his first goal in 2004 against Italy, El Nino was picked as part of Spain's squad for Euro 2004 in Portugal. Torres spent the first two group matches on the bench and played in the third which they lost against Portugal sending them crashing out below Greece on goals scored.Torres became Spain's top scorer in qualifying for World Cup 2006 scoring seven goals in eleven matches. Spain still had difficulties in qualifying and had to play Slovakia in a play off which they won. In Germany for the finals Spain's young squad breezed through the group stages paying some scintillating football. Torres got his first goal against Ukraine in a 4-0 win then scored two against Tunisia. Unfortunately for Spain they came up against France in the first knockout round and lost 3-1. France went onto the final and lost against Italy on penalties. Torres finished the tournament as Spain's joint top scorer with David Villa both on three goals each.Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland gave Spain's under achieving stars the chance to shine. Spain breezed through the group stages winning all three matches against Russia, Sweden and Greece. Torres got off the mark with his first goal in a 2-1 win over Sweden. Spain's next hurdle was World Champions Italy in the Quarter Finals which after a goalless 90 minutes and extra time was decided on penalties. Spain banished former memories of penalty defeat to beat the Italians 4-2. Russia was next up in the Semi's and belief amongst the players and fans was sky high as Spain walked into the finals beating Russia 3-0 with goals from Xavi, Guiza and Silva. Spain went into the final without injured top scorer David Villa and it was his strike partner Torres who got the only goal of the game to beat Germany 1-0. The victory ended Spain's 44 year barren run without a title. Torres was named man of the match in the final and was selected alongside David Villa in the team of the tournament.